Finalizing college list

College Search & Selection
1

I’m going into my senior year in high school, and I’m trying to finalize a list of colleges to apply to. I’m looking to add around two schools to the list. Any opinions on the list, as well as suggestions for additions or schools I should take off would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

School criteria:

  • Decently sized school: 8,000-15,000, though this isn’t a huge factor
  • Closed campus, not too urban - rural is okay, small town preferred. Location (state-wise) isn’t a huge deciding factor, but I prefer the North over the South
  • Strong school spirit, emphasis on sports (important)
  • Moderate to liberal

Hooks: Hispanic female

About me:
GPA: 3.94 unweighted, 4.75 weighted
Test scores: 2320 old SAT, 35 ACT, 800 French, 760 Math II, 760 Biology M
Senior year classes: 3 AP’s, the rest honors classes
A couple academic awards

Extracurriculars:
-14 years club gymnastics, 4 years HS varsity gymnastics (1 yr. captain)

  • community service trips, over 7 years volunteer work for church
  • 9 years piano
  • internship at a Harvard biomedical research lab

College list so far:
Stanford University (visited)
Harvard University
University of Michigan
USC (visited)
Notre Dame (visited, sibling legacy)
Boston College (visited)

Thanks again!

2

Ohio University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Pittsburgh, Tulane would probably love to have you plus give you merit.

3

Do you have any safety schools that you didn’t list or are you still looking for safeties too? A safety school should be schools you are almost guaranteed to get in, will be affordable, and that you would be happy to attend. Usually your instate public schools are a good option for a safety.

Your list is mostly reaches, except for maybe BC and Umich. Anyway, some schools that came to mind that may be more of match schools are Villanova, University of Wisconsin, Syracuse, and Lehigh.

4

Unfortunately, the financial side is absolutely as important as any of the other “fit” factors - maybe more so. Without that, all CC offers is airy persiflage.

5

I second Pitt, though it’s kinda urban

6

Pitt is the 1 of the most urban schools I know of.